Families with children and the younger generational cohorts are driving the market for alternative ingredient snacks. Sales of these snacks within salty snacks and crackers were robust in 2016, growing 5.2% in the year and outpacing overall sales growth in these two snack segments. Vegetable-based snacks (not including potato) has been the fastest growing category, followed by pulse-based snacks. Sales of alternative grain formulation snacks were flat, despite whole grain and multigrain snack formulations being the most popular types of alternative ingredient snacks with consumers. The use of specific vegetables in formulations and marketing such as sweet potato and spinach are popular, but far outnumbered by the number of products that simply call out the use of vegetables (or “veggies”) to promote a better-for-you snacking product. Generic “bean” formulations are also popular, but chickpea-based snacks are the fastest growing subcategory for pulse-based snacks.

Growth of the alternative ingredient snack market will remain moderate to strong over the next three years through 2019, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% to reach sales of $1,700 million. The increase in number of snackers looking for a healthier alternative will be a strong driver for the market, as will the continued interest in snacks offering flavor and texture variety, which alternative ingredient snacks offer.

What You'll Get in This Report

Snack Food Nutrition Trends: Pulses, Vegetables, and Grains in Salty Snacks and Crackers provides an in depth analysis of alternative ingredient snack products and sales through all channels in the U.S. market, focusing on the key categories of snacks driving the market and highlighting sales trends. The report covers sales of salty snacks and crackers containing pulses such as beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas, vegetables such as sweet potato, spinach, and kale, and notable grain ingredient formulations such as whole grain, multigrain, and ancient grains. All information and analyses in the report is highly accessible, presented in concise text and easy-to-read and practical charts, tables, and graphs.

Report Methodology

The information in Snack Food Nutrition Trends: Pulses, Vegetables, and Grains in Salty Snacks and Crackers was obtained from primary datasets including IRI's Infoscan from its multi-outlet (MULO)-tracked point of sale data, consumer survey data compiled by the National Consumer Survey and from Simmons' National Consumer Survey. Other primary research includes interviews with snack experts, on-site examination of retail and service provider venues, and Internet canvassing including websites and blogs. Secondary research includes information- and data-gathering from consumer business and trade publications, company profiles, and the author's extensive food & beverage research database and report collection.